Jamaican international Leon Bailey cut a disappointed figure after Aston Villa’s FA Cup dream was dashed by Crystal Palace, but he insists there is still everything to play for as the club shifts focus back to securing a Champions League spot through the Premier League.
Villa’s hopes of reaching their first FA Cup final since 2015 were dashed in ruthless fashion at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, as Crystal Palace pulled off a clinical 3-0 semi-final victory. Despite Villa enjoying a staggering 71 percent of possession, Palace’s swift counterattacks proved too much, with Eberechi Eze opening the scoring in the 31st minute before Ismaila Sarr added a second-half brace to seal the deal.
Bailey, speaking after the match, admitted Villa’s failure to capitalize on their early dominance proved costly.
"I think they were more focused than us,” Bailey reflected in a post-match interview with ESPN’s Alexis Nunes.
"In the beginning, both teams were on edge and playing it safe. But for most of the game, we had control. We knew how dangerous they were on the counter, and unfortunately, we left ourselves open. They took their chances and made it difficult for us," he added.
Villa’s struggles in the final third were glaring despite their territorial control, a shortcoming Bailey acknowledged.
"We know they are a strong side, and they are used to defending for long periods. They are good at what they do, and it was hard for us to get clear opportunities and do what we wanted, and they did very well. But we got our chances, and unfortunately we didn’t take our chance early, and they did; that cost us the game from very early on. We tried everything we could, and nothing was coming off for us," Bailey said.
The loss marked another setback in a season that once promised so much, with Villa also falling short in the Champions League. However, Bailey emphasized the need to regroup quickly, with four crucial Premier League games remaining.
"We're going to take away the positives,” he declared.
"We still have something to fight for, and that's trying to make the Champions League again. We have four games to go—it’s going to be four finals for us. We just have to give it everything and try to make it a good season," Bailey noted.
Aston Villa currently sit seventh in the Premier League on 57 points, but the race for a top-four finish remains wide open. Liverpool (79 points) are on the cusp of being crowned champions, but Villa could still realistically target Newcastle United (62 points), Manchester City (61 points), Chelsea (60 points), and Nottingham Forest (60 points), who are all just a few points ahead in the standings. Arsenal sit comfortably in second with 67 points.
Bailey and his teammates now face a defining stretch, one that could see them finish an otherwise turbulent season on a high note with a coveted return to Europe’s elite competition.
"We were unfortunate to not go through in the Champions League and now the FA Cup, so we have the league to focus on now, and it's full gas from here," Bailey ended.